Bombesin-like immunoreactivity in the pituitary gland

Summary Bombesin has been shown to stimulate release of anterior pituitary hormones both in vivo and in vitro. The aim of this study was to determine whether bombesin-like immunoreactivity could be detected in the human pituitary. Significant concentrations were found in the human anterior gland (4.6±1.5 pmoles/g), posterior gland (1.5±0.4 pmoles/g) and stalk (8.1±0.8 pmoles/g). Significant amounts were also observed in the guinea-pig pituitary. Gel permeation chromatography revealed the presence of 2 major molecular forms of bombesin-like immunoreactivity, one co-eluting with porcine gastrin-releasing peptide and the other with amphibian bombesin.     

Bombesin-like immunoreactivity in the pancreas of man and other mammalian species

Summary Bombesin-like immunoreactivity has been measured in pancreatic tissues of man (12.4±1.2 pmol/g), pig (15.8±3.2), calf (4.3±0.9), rat (8.5±1.2) and guinea-pig (2.8±0.6) by a specific radioimmunoassay. Gel filtration of the pancreatic extracts revealed 2 major immunoreactive peaks: the earlier peak was eluted in the position of porcine gastrin-releasing peptide, and the later peak was eluted just after the amphibian bombesin standard. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated the presence of bombesin-like immunoreactivity in nerves in the rat pancreas, particularly in the exocrine pancreas, and occasionally in the peri-insular spaces. Isolated rat pancreatic islets were found to contain small quantities of bombesin-like immunoreactivity (0.037±0.003 fmol/islet) suggesting that mammalian bombesin-like peptides may be invovled in the regulation of endocrine as well as exocrine pancreatic secretion.Acknowledgments. We are grateful to Dr. A. V. Edwards, Physiological Laboratory, Cambridge, U. K. for providing the calf tissues, and the British Diabetic Association, U. K. for support.To whom reprint requests should be addressed.     

Effects of enterally- and parenterally-administered bombesin on intestinal luminal tryptic activity and protein in the suckling rat

Summary Because of the presence of bombesin-like immunoreactivity in milk we investigated if enteral administration of bombesin affects the intestinal luminal content of trypsin and protein in 12-14-day-old rats. Bombesin (40 g/kg), given either orogastrically or subcutaneously, produced a significant elevation in the intestinal content of trypsin activity. Thus, enterally-administered bombesin can produce acute biologic effects in suckling rats.     

Effects of enterally- and parenterally-administered bombesin on intestinal luminal tryptic activity and protein in the suckling rat

Because of the presence of bombesin-like immunoreactivity in milk, we investigated if enteral administration of bombesin affects the intestinal luminal content of trypsin and protein in 12-14-day-old rats. Bombesin (40 micrograms/kg), given either orogastrically or subcutaneously, produced a significant elevation in the intestinal content of trypsin activity. Thus, enterally-administered bombesin can produce acute biologic effects in suckling rats.     

DNA synthesis in the pituitary gland of the rat: effect of sulpiride and clomiphene.

Sulpiride administration to rats releases prolactin and increases DNA replication in the anterior pituitary gland. Clomiphene prevents the stimulation of DNA synthesis produced by sulpiride, but does not affect prolactin release from the gland. These findings suggest that the intracellular prolactin content of the anterior pituitary gland plays a role in the regulation of DNA synthesis through a mechanism mediated by oestrogens.     

Development of antral gastrin-like immunoreactivity and pituitary CCK8/gastrin-like immunoreactivity in rats

Gel filtration of antral extract of adult rats revealed gastrin-17 and gastrin-34. Gel filtration of anterior pituitary extract showed CCK8 and gastrin-17, whereas posterior pituitary extract showed only a CCK8. Antral gastrin-like immunoreactivity (G-LI) increased after milk feeding and especially after weaning was started. Changes in diet may exert a profound influence on the ontogenic development of antral G-LI, but not pituitary CCK8/G-LI.     

Cell proliferation in the rat pituitary gland: a mechanism of control in prolactin cells.

We investigated the relationship between prolactin content and DNA replication in the anterior pituitary gland. Thymidine incorporation in pregnant rats is significantly lower than in virgin controls. This is accompanied by a decreased activity of DNA polymerase. Sulpiride administration to pregnant rats enhances thymidine incorporation to levels similar to virgin controls. The results indicate a negative feedback between prolactin content and DNA synthesis in the rat anterior pituitary gland.     

Development of antral gastrin-like immunoreactivity and pituitary CCK8/gastrin-like immunoreactivity in rats

Summary Gel filtration of antral extract of adult rats revealed gastrin-17 and gastrin-34. Gel filtration of anterior pituitary extract showed CCK8 and gastrin-17, whereas posterior pituitary extract showed only a CCK8. Antral gastrin-like immunoreactivity (G-LI) increased after milk feeding and especially after weaning was started. Changes in diet may exert a profound influence on the ontogenic development of antral G-LI, but not pituitary CCK8/G-LI.     

DNA synthesis in the pituitary gland of the rat: Effect of sulpiride and clomiphene

Summary Sulpiride administration to rats releases prolactin and increases DNA replication in the anterior pituitary gland. Clomiphene prevents the stimulation of DNA synthesis produced by sulpiride, but does not affect prolactin release from the gland. These findings suggest that the intracellular prolactin content of the anterior pituitary gland plays a role in the regulation of DNA synthesis through a mechanism mediated by oestrogens.This work was supported by PLAMIRH 99.178.1.78, by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas and by the Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (Argentina). We are grateful to Dr P. Scacchi for performing the radioimmunoassay and to Prof. C. J. Gómez for the opportunity to perform this work.     

Cell proliferation in the rat pituitary gland: A mechanism of control in prolactin cells

Summary We investigated the relationship between prolactin content and DNA replication in the anterior pituitary gland. Thymidine incorporation in pregnant rats is significantly lower than in virgin controls. This is accompanied by a decreased activity of DNA polymerase. Sulpiride administration to pregnant rats enhances thymidine incorporation to levels similar to virgin controls. The results indicate a negative feedback between prolactin content and DNA synthesis in the rat anterior pituitary gland.We are grateful to Prof. Carlos J. Gómez for the opportunity to perform this work. These studies were supported by PLA-MIRH 99.178.1.78, by the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas and by the Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (Argentina).     

Morphological evidence for a direct neuroendocrine GABAergic control of the anterior pituitary in teleosts

Summary The anterior pituitary of teleosts is unique among vertebrates in receiving a direct innervation which represents the morphological support of the neuroendocrine control of pars distalis functions. The participation of GABAergic fibers in this innervation was studied by means of immunocytochemistry at the light and electron microscopic levels, using antibodies against GABA. Immunoreactive fibers, characterized by the presence of small clear and dense cored vesicles, were detected in all parts of the gland. Immunopositive terminals were found in close, sometimes synaptic-like, contact with most glandular cell types in the anterior lobe. The data strongly suggest that in teleosts, as in mammals, GABA is involved in the neuroendocrine control of anterior pituitary functions.     

Morphological evidence for a direct neuroendocrine GABAergic control of the anterior pituitary in teleosts

The anterior pituitary of teleosts is unique among vertebrates in receiving a direct innervation which represents the morphological support of the neuroendocrine control of pars distalis functions. The participation of GABAergic fibers in this innervation was studied by means of immunocytochemistry at the light and electron microscopic levels, using antibodies against GABA. Immunoreactive fibers, characterized by the presence of small clear and dense cored vesicles, were detected in all parts of the gland. Immunopositive terminals were found in close, sometimes synaptic-like, contact with most glandular cell types in the anterior lobe. The data strongly suggest that in teleosts, as in mammals, GABA is involved in the neuroendocrine control of anterior pituitary functions.     

Demonstration of "hydroxylase" and "epoxide hydrase" activities in preparations of nucleoli isolated from rat liver]

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity and epoxyde hydrase (EH) activity have been found in Rat liver nucleoli obtained from untreated (C) and methylcholanthrene (MC) pretreated Rats. Electron microscopic observations of nucleolar preparations did not reveal significant contamination either by intact nuclei or by nuclear membranes. Very low but detectable activity of NADPH cytochrome C reductase was found in the nucleoli. Nucleolar preparations revealed little AHH activity (12-18 pmoles/min/mg). AHH was inducible by MC in nuclei but not in nucleoli. The presence of EH in nucleoli was demonstrated with phenanthrene 9,10-oxide (550-620 pmoles/min/mg) and benzopyrene 4,5-oxide (92-116 pmoles/min/mg). These values were lower than those obtained using intact nuclei. The addition of TCPO (10(-4) M) inhibited EH activity.     

Dipeptidyl aminopeptidase in neonatal rat brain regions

Summary Changes in the activity of dipeptidyl aminopeptidase in rat pituitary gland and various brain regions were examined at 3, 5 and 20 weeks of age. The enzyme activity per g tissue wet weight in pituitary gland was the highest of all tissues studied. Subcellular distribution of the activity was also studied. The highest enzyme activity was found in a crude mitochondrial fraction including synaptosomes.     

Action potentials in non-tumor cells from the anterior pituitary gland

Non-tumor cells of rat anterior pituitary gland are able, upon electrical stimulation, to generate action potentials which are based on an increase of the membrane permeability to both Na+ and Ca2+.     

Dissociation of digoxin-like immunoreactivity and Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitory activity in rat plasma

We measured endogenous digitalis-like factor (EDF) in rat plasma during acute saline infusion by two different procedures. Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitory activity in the rat plasma significantly increased during saline loading (7.8 +/- 2.2 vs 2.5 +/- 0.9%, with and without acute saline loading, respectively, p less than 0.05). On the other hand, the plasma digoxin-like immunoreactivity significantly decreased during acute saline loading (16.9 +/- 1.6 vs 32.0 +/- 2.8 pg digoxin equivalents/ml, with and without acute saline loading, respectively, p less than 0.01). These results indicate that the major substances detected by digoxin-like immunoreactivity and direct Na+,K+-ATPase inhibitory activity are completely different, at least in rat plasma.     

Regulation of B and T cell development by anterior pituitary hormones

Hormones produced by the anterior pituitary gland have been implicated in the regulation of primary lymphocyte development. In order to identify endocrine factors involved in that process, several strains of mice with genetic defects resulting in a selective impairment in the production of one or more anterior pituitary-derived hormones have been analysed. This study has resulted in the classification of endocrine hormones into the following four categories (i) hormones such as prolactin with no apparent effects on primary lymphopoiesis; (ii) anabolic hormones such as growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I whose stimulatory effects on primary lymphopoiesis are non-lineage-specific and related to their actions as systemic mediators of growth and/or differentiation; (iii) hormones such as thyroid hormones that have an obligate role in primary B lymphopoiesis; and (iv) hormones such as oestrogens that act as negative regulators of lymphopoiesis.     

Aldolase C is localized in neuroendocrine cells

To elucidate the localization of the subunit C of aldolase (aldolase C) in peripheral neuroendocrine cells, we made an immunohistochemical study with monospecific antibodies against human aldolase C. Aldolase C was found to be localized in various types of neuroendocrine cells; in the pituitary gland, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal gland, bronchus, and gastrointestinal tract.     

Aldolase C is localized in neuroendocrine cells

Summary To elucidate the localization of the subunit C of aldolase (aldolase C) in peripheral neuroendocrine cells, we made an immunohistochemical study with monospecific antibodies against human aldolase C. Aldolase C was found to be localized in various types of neuroendocrine cells; in the pituitary gland, thyroid, pancreas, adrenal gland, bronchus, and gastrointestinal tract.     

Zum Einfluss von Angiotensin II auf die Nebennierenrinde unter chemischer adrenostase mit SU 4885 (Metopiron)

Summary The inhibition of 11--hydroxylase in the adrenal cortex with SU 4885 (metopiron) increases the ACTH-secretion. Val₅-angiotensin II blocks the reaction of the anterior pituitary gland similarly as does dexamethasone. Mode and intensity of this action of angiotensin II, and the influence on rats treated as described, are studied.